Construction of memorial monuments



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Mbdel.)

B; VAN AMRINGE. GONSTRUGTION 0F MEMORIAL MONUMENTS. No. 528,193

Patented Oct. '30, 1894.

TNE fl'onms PETERS co.. prgmmum'cv WASNINGTDN, o. c,

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheen 2.

W'. B. VAN AMRINGE. GONSTRUGTION OF MEMORIAL MONUMENTS.

Patented 0011;. 30, 1894.

H @0000 r I UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM B. VAN AMRINGE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CONSTRUCTION OF MEMORIAL MONUMENTSn SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 528,193, dated October 30, 1894.

Application filed October 6, 1893. Serial No. 487,357. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. VAN AM- RINGE, a citizenof the UnitedStates, resid private monuments or memorial tablets, al

though it will be understood that the same is equally applicable topublic monuments or other similar superstructures. j

Heretofore in the mounting or erection of memorial tablets or monumentsupon the foundations of masonry usually provided therefor, it has beenthe practice in many instances to build the foundation up to or somewhatabove the surface of the ground, and

then after making the upper course thereofl into as true a bed as ispermitted by the na-.

ture of the material employed, to level 0d the upper surface of saidfoundation by filling the interstices with mortar, cement, or the like,and finally placing the monument or tablet upon the foundation to becomeset in the position it is intended the same shall occupy. When thusarranged, the joint be tween the base of the monument or tablet and theupper course or surface of the foundation has usually been sealed orpointed up with mortar, cement, or the like, soas to give to the jointas neat an appearance and finish as possible; and so great has been thedifficulty to secure a close joint at this point, owing to the irregularsurface of the masonrybed, that it has heretofore been impracticable touse lead or similar material to seal the joint except in such instanceswhere cut stone has been employed, and the use of which stone isentirely too expensive. On account of such expense it has been customarytherefore to point up or pack the joint as well as the largerjoints andcrevices with cement mortar which in a comparativelyshort space orwashing away of time becomes loosened and works itself out of the jointsalmost as soon as frost appears. In other former instances also theearth surrounding the foundation has usually been graded up so as tocompletely conceal from view the point of union or connection of thebase to the foundation; and with this plan and arrangement, owing to therapid sinking and washingawayof the earth from around the joint, thelatter soon becomes exposed and presents a very uneven and unsightlyappearance which very seriously detracts from the whole efiect of themonument. Again, where the joint is sealed up by pointing the mortar orcement employed for the purpose soon becomes broken or crumbled, and,either falling out of itself,

or being forced out by the action of frost, leaves the joint exposed andvery naturally weakens the support.

As the weakest point of a masonry foundation is usually within a fewinches of the top surface, to protect and strengthen such pointobviously is to protect and strengthen the whole structure.

The object of the present invention'is to provide means whereby thejoint between the upper surface of the foundation and the base of themonument or tablet; will be most efiectually sealed and not liable todestruction by the elements. Also, to so construct the base and joint asto always present as neat an appearance and finish as anyother part tobe found on the monument; and finally, to soconnect or unite the base tothe foundation so that the latter will be greatly strengthened at itsWeakest point, the joint preserved indefinitely, and the liability" toweakening and unsettling due to the sinking of the surrounding earth,entirely overcome.

Referring to the accompanying drawings;

of. the cap which surrounds the upper portion of the foundation andthroughthe medium ofwhich the monument or tablet is joined .to suchfoundation. Fig. 3, is a crosssection of a the said cap, showing itsposition between the foundation and monument base.

Fig. 4, is a top or plan view of the cap when composed of sectionsso asto enable the same to be placed round the base-joint of monuments ortablets already standing. Fig. 5, is a top view of the preferred form ofthe cap, the same illustrating the construction of spaces or channelsfor the reception of sealing material, as lead. Fig. 6, is a crosssection of Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is a view similar to Fig. 5, illustrating amodification in the form of sealing spaces or channels. Fig. 8, is across-section of Fig. 7.

In the practice of my invention, I resort to the usual foundation A, ofmasonry, which foundation may either be built or extended up to a pointabove the ground surface level or flush with such surface, or slightlybelow the same, as occasion or circumstances may render desirable. Thesaid foundation may be of any size or dimensions, and may be eithertapering at the sides, or straight up, or may be round or oval incross-section, the particular shape or dimensions making no differencewhatever since the cap or joint piece hereinafter referred to will inall cases be made to correspond.

When the .foundation has been built or erected to the height desired, Iplace over the top thereof, a metallic frame or cap B, which correspondsto the shape of the foundation, and which, as shown,is of aheight toextend down around the sides of the foundation when properly placed inposition, as indicated in Fig.- 3. As shown in the several figures ofthe drawings, the said cap or frame is rectangular in shape, and isprovided with a horizontal flange a, extending inwardly from the sidesall around at the top, the said flange being somewhat sunken and thenelevated from said sides as shown at b, b, (Fig. 3) so that when thebase 0, of the monument or tablet is placed therein a space or recess61, will be formed all around for the reception of lead or other sealingmaterial which, from the construction shown and explained,may be pouredin while in a molten state and then allowed to harden. From thisconstruction it will appear that by reason of the space or recess d,being sunken all around as shown at e, the lead or other sealingmaterial will become locked in the recess after hardening and thus willthere be no liability of the filling working loose or falling out as inthe instance recited of pointing the joint with mortar or cement.

Itwill further be seen thatthe under side of the base of the monument ortablet may be finished off smooth all around for a dis-. tance from itsedges equal to the width of the flange a, so as to effect an even bearing upon such flange, While the surface of the under side of the baseinclosed within such finished portion may be left unfinished so as toleave projections to take into the cement or other binding material thatis filled into the opening f, of the cap or frame. The said cap beingplaced upon the foundation as indicated,

cement or binding material is filled or poured into the opening thereofand scraped off so as to present an even surface on the top of thefoundation flush with the upper surface of the flange a, the tablet ormonument being then placed into position and the lead poured into thesealing space or the joint preferably sealed as hereinafter moreparticularly described. When the binder hardens, the monument will besecurely held in place as usual and the protruding edges of the lead maybe trimmed or cut off in any convenient manner so as to make thesealfiush with the sides of the base and cap and not present anunsightly appearance. By extending theisides of the cap downwardly, theweakest portion of the foundation will be materially strengthened, andthe whole structure thereby rendered capable of standing indefinitelyand with no liability of displacement or sagging.

In some instances it may be desirable to inclose or surround the entirefoundation in a similar manner, see dotted lines Fig. l; and the loweredge of the upper cap orframe may then be made to connect with orjoin tothe upper edge of the lower one in any suitable manuer. In otherinstances the cap when used as just described may be cast in one piece.

Again it may be desirable to repair and seal the corresponding joints ofmonuments or tablets already standing, in which case I construct the capor frame in sections, (see Fig. 4) so that the same can be more readilyplaced around the foundations and secured in place in any suitablemanner. The contiguous ends of the cap or frame in this instance wouldbe formed to lap or connect (see i Fig. 4) and the joinder of the partscould then be effected either by soldering, fusing, or otherwise.

As a more convenient way of constructing the cap or frame so as tobetter receive and hold a seal, such for instance as lead or other softmetal, I constructthe upper surface of the flange a, of such cap with aseries of channels 9, formed by fluting or creasing the metal of whichit is composed, and then after the cap or frame is placed on thefoundation, I lay on the flange a strip of lead or other soft metal 9having projections on its under side to enter the channels g, (see Figs.6 and 8,) and when the monument or tablet is lifted or erected into itsplace the weight thereof will squeeze the lead into the channels,thereby closing the same tightly and making a secure joint. If by theweight of the monument or tablet any of the lead or other soft metal iscaused to protrude from the sides of the cap and base by compression theprotruding portions may be easily trimmed ofi even therewith in anysuitable manner. Preferably I extend the channels g, lengthwise witheach portion of the cap or frame or parallel to the edges of said cap,as shown more clearly at the right hand portion of Figs. 5 and 7; whilein other instances I may make surface of the can, or transverse to thelength of the sides, as shown at the left-hand portion of the figuresreferred to. I find it also equally as effective for my purpose, whenusing the longitudinal form of channels or spaces, to only have suchchannels or spaces cover a limited portion of the surface of the cap orframe from the outer edges of the latter, thereby leaving the remainingsurface smooth. This gives all the advantages to be had even if .suchchannels were made throughout the whole width of the sides of the frameand it is apparent that the filling 0r seal after having once been sosecured in place cannot be easily withdrawn, nor is there any danger orlikelihood of the same falling out from any cause. In order to properlyintersect at the corners it will be observed that the channels or spacesg, gradually decrease in length inwardly, and it is of course understoodthat the ends of the lead or other filling pieces will becorrespondingly formed.

I had also contemplated the use of wedgeshaped pieces or blocks of leador other similar material to be driven into the joint between the tabletand base, the protruding portions of which were to be afterward shavedoff flush. With this construction, however, for an unskilled workman toattempt to seal the joint the material of which the monument is made isliable to become chipped 0E, and for this as well as for other reasons,I prefer to use the construction and arrangement shown.

On reference to Figs. 7 and 8, a modification will be seen in the formor shape of the recess'es or channels formed in the flange a, andwherein is shown a series of rectangular shaped notches.

It will be understood that the cap or frame may be constructed of anysuitable material, either cast or sheet metal, and that in the minorpoints of construction and arrangement, immaterial alterations could bemade.

Without limiting myself, therefore, to the preciseconstruction andarrangement shown,

1. In the construction of memorial tablets or monuments, or othersimilar superstructures, the combination with the foundation and base,of a cap or frame extending downward and surrounding the sides of thefoundation and formed with a central opening, a binding material filledinto said opening on top of the foundation, and a sealed joint betweenthe said cap and base, substantially as described.

2. In the construction of memorial tablets or monuments, or othersimilar superstructures, the combination with a foundation, of a cap orframe fitted thereon to embrace the sides thereof and provided at thetop all around with an inwardly projecting flange having a centralopening, a binding material filling said opening, a base finished allaround on its under surface for a distance about equal to the width ofthe flange and unfinished on the remainder of such surface to leaveprojections for entering the binding,

and a sealed joint between the base and cap, substantially as described.3. The combination with the foundation and base, of a cap or framehaving the inwardly projecting flange formed with a series ofindentations or channels, and a strip of soft metal interposed betweensaid cap and base and compressed into the channels by the weight above,substantially as described.

.4. The frame or cap provided with downwardly extending sides and havingan upper inwardly projecting flange and central opening, said flangebeing formed with a series of channels or recesses, substantially asshown and for the purpose described. A I

5. The cap or frame formed with the longitudinal parallel channelsextending for a limited space from the outer edges thereof,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses. Q

WILLIAM B. VAN AMRINGE. Witnesses:

WILLIAM T. HAYES, IRA (J. HERSEY.

